Joseph jules perisse



J. J. PRISS.

HIGH BXPLOSIVE SHELL.

Patented Dec. 14, 1897 UNITED STATES ATENT @Erica JoSEPI-r JULES PERISSE, or ASNIERES, FRANCE.

HIGH-EXPLOSIVE SHELL,

SPECIFICATIO forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,406, dated December 14, 18972 Application filed August 2, 1897. Serial No. 646,833. (No model.) Patented in lrance December 8, 189,6, No. 261,999.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH JULES PRISS, of Asnires, (Seine) in the Republic of France, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shells or Explosive Projectiles, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent in France, No. 261,999, dated December '8, 1996,) which are fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to improvements in shells or explosive projectiles.

When firing projectiles charged with powerful explosives against armor-plates, the explosion of the charge ordinarily takes place immediately after the concussion and before the projectile has passed through or pierced the armor-plate, so that the power of the charge is not utilized except to a slight degree in enlarging the hole Produced iu the armor-plate. On the other hand, the explosion of the charge sometimes takes place Within the gun from the concussion of the gases and causes the bursting of the said gun, the death of the attendants, and sometimes other considerable damage.

Now the object of this invention is to protect the charge and the detonator from the i direct action of external shocks, to prevent explosion taking place on firing, and to retard the said explosion to such an extent that it does not take place until after the projectile has passed through orpenetrated the armor-plate.

According to my invention I inclose the charge in a jacket or envelop, hereinafter referrdd to as .the cartridge, which is thin and rigid, but independent of the shell, the

' form' and dimensions of the said envelop beof the shell on account of its inertia.

ing very similar to thoseof the shell-cham,- ber. lThe length of the cartridge is slightly less than that of the shell-chamber, so that it can move longitudinally iu the shell. At the moment of iring the said cartridge presses with considerable force against the base-plug There is therefore at the moment `when the shell strikes -an obstacle a small space in front of the cartridge which has to be traversed before the cartridge experiences any eect from the shock, so that a first retardation of the explosive is thereby effected. This retardation is increased by subjecting the cartridge during its-short movement to a powerful retarding but continuously-acting force.

ln order that regular results be obtained, it is necessary that the cartridge be made quitelrigid. On the other hand, in order that the explosive charge may be as large as possible it is advisable to make the Walls of the cartridge as thin as possible.

The cartridge is made rigid and yet of slight thickness by forming the base of the cartridge of a rigid plate or disk, to the circumference of which the edges of the cap forming the'rest of the envelop or jacket are secured by any suitable means. This plate or disk is provided With an axial solid rod, which is formed in one with or rigidly connected to it and extends to the other end of the cap. W'hen a detonator is employed, the said detonator is screwed into the cap of the cartridge and into the central rod of the plat-e or disk. By this means the length of the cartridge and its' diameter are maintained permanent.

As before stated, it is preferred to increase the retardation of the cartridge produced by the space which it must traverse afterimpact by placing in said space a retarding substance or cushion, Which subjects the cartridge to a continuously acting resistance.` The most elfective means I have found for this purpose is what l designate a hydraulic brake, using liquid friction and resistance.

In the case of liquid friction the space in the interior of the shell is completely filled with a liquid which can flow from the front towardthe back of the cartridge, or vice versa. If the diameter of the cartridge be made slightly less than that of the interior of the shell, the"-iiow will take place through the annular space thus left, or grooves or passages vofeuf eier. tarea can be provided in the metal Wall of the shell, The diameter measured upon the walls or partitions separating these passages or grooves is then made equal to that of the cartridge vat a corresponding point, and the latter is therefore guided in its movement. Furthermore, 'in some cases l may employ a combination arrangement-that is to say, I may provide a cartridge of a diameter slightly less than that of the interior of IOC the shell and add to the annular space thus formed the spaces obtained by the passages or grooves in the metal wall of the shell.

In many cases all obstacles to the forward movement of the cartridge can be dispensed with, the air or other suitable gas being sufiicient to act as a retarding-cush'ion to prevent premature explosion.

The liquid-friction and gaseous-cushion devices have the advantage of producing an y equal pressure upon every partei -the surface! l to the retardation of the shock when the proof the cartridge,which is very favorable to the maintenance of the shape of the latter. v Furthermore', with the liquid it is possible, without sacrificing anything as regards it-s good preservation, to choose a liquid which is ig-v nited by the explosion of the charge in such a manner as to give to the shell a certain valu as an incendiary projectile.

The precedingdescription has only referred jectile strikes an obstacle. It will be obvious that the'same means can be employed to f .obviate the eiect of the initial concussion on firing. I, however, advantageously employ. the combined arrangements illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- K Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the cartridge; Fig. 2,.apartial section ofl an apparatus in which is employed the hydraulic retarding device. Fig. 3 is a cross-section. of the shell, andv Fig. 4 is a detail View of the base of the cartridge. A

.and thethin jacket A', the cartridge being stiened by a central rod B, and is provided with a detonator @which is screwed into the Arod B and the cap of the cartridge. y

The cartridge is of the same general shape as the shell S, but of less length, so that there is-space within the latter for the longitudinal movement of the cartridge. In this space 4. is placed the uid, solid, orplastic retardingcushion.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the projectile is constructed for a iiuid retarding-cushion. To this end the chamber of the shell is provided witha series of long udinal channels s and is lled with a liquid surrounding the cartridge and producing uniform pressure 011v its-entire surface. means, such as springs, which might disg- This is preferable to other ure or =break the cartridge upon impact and vss , rate dissolved in glycerin.

vThe cartridge plate or 4disk interfere lwith its proper action. I have used for this purpose liquids having a neutral fatty base holding in solution salts of feeble stability, rich in oxygen, such as a nitrate or chlojectile strikes an obstacle, the forward movement of the cartridge is opposed and retarded by the resistance ofthe fiuid,'which requires an appreciable 'time to pass through contracti, edzchannels from the front to the rear of the chamber.

on its under side with a number of radiating i ribs b, which before firing are in' contact with a lead plate D, fixed to the base-plug P of the shell. A small rod D', of malleable metal, (copper or brass,) is iixed to the center of the plate or disk, passes through the plug in a -direction axial to the shell, and is formed with a screw-thread on the end which projects from the plug and is screwed into the base A of 'the cartridge. A nut F is saelzmdhpon. lhenthreaded Aend of the rod and bears against the plug. By this means the three parts-namely, the cartridge, leaden plate, and shell-plug-are secured together. On ring, the small rod is slightly iiattened or compressed and the ribs press into the lead, thereby anchoring the cartridge, insuring the rotation thereof with the shell, and

all the liquid or the gas is forced toward lthe front of the cartridge. In order to allow for compression of the rod D', I provide in the base of the shell a space or pocket p. At theshock of the impact with an obstacle the small rod breaks, and the cartridge is thereby free to continue its movement forward, ex,

cept in so far as it is exposed to the resistance Y ofthe retarding liquid or gas.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An explosive projectile comprising in combination a shell, an inclosed cartridge independent of the shell and of similar` shape cartridge imam..

tom, thin side walls and a central stiifeni-ng- IOO IIO

rod, and means for retarding the movement of the cartridge from the rear to the front of the shell, the cartridge'being held initially at K the rear or base of the shell, substantially as.

described.

3. The combination of the inclosing shell,

` the cartridge oi" less length than the shell, so

as to leave a space through which it moves relatively to the shell after impact, a retarding-cushion occupying said space, anda softmetal plate or disk against which the basel of the cartridgebears, substantially as de* When the prof y A is provided scribed.-

4. The combination of the shell, the inclosed cartridge shorter than the chamber of v the shell seas `to leavel a space between Vthe forward'end oii` the cartridge and shell, and a iiuid retarding-cushion filling said space, thecartridge being initially held at thebase or rear of the shell, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the shell, the in closed cartridge shorterl than the chamber of the shell, fthe cartridge being initially held at the lizise of the shell, and e liquid retardingcushion in the space between t-lie sheli and cartridge, substantially as described.

G. The combination of the shell, lie inclosed cartridge of less length than the cliauiber containing it, seid cartridge being ini.- tia-lly held it vthe base of theliell, the latter being provided with longitudinal contracted channels, and the liquid retarding-cushion occupying the space between the shell and cartridge, the construction constituting :i hydraulic brake retarding the forward movement of the cartridge after impact, substantially as described.

7. lu im explosive projectile the combina# tion of the shell, the rigid inclcscd cert-ridge of less iength than the shell, the bese of the cartridge having radial ribs, disk cf sofimetal between the cartridge and base of the shell, and 'fragile connection between the shell and cartridge adapted to "De ruptured upon impactof the projectile, substantially as described,

In testimony whereof; I have signed this specification iu the presence cl two subscribing Witnesses.

Josemi: JULES PRISS. ,lfilitnessesz 

